"I have unlimited pity and sympathy," retorted the prince, "for gallant officers who have always worthily served their king and country."
What more could the prince do or say in his position, himself the object of suspicion? The Duc de Nemours understood, and addressed himself next to the queen-mother.
"See, Madame, but one remains," said he, without calling Castelnau's name. "Can we not at least save him?"
"I can do nothing," replied Catherine, turning her head away.
Meanwhile the unfortunate Castelnau was ascending the steps to the scaffold, singing as he went,—
"Dieu me soit doux et favorable,
Me bénissant par sa bonté,
Et de son visage adorable
Me fasse luire sa clarté."[9]
The people, deeply affected, forgot the fear inspired by spies and mouchards, and cried as with one voice,—
"Mercy, mercy!"
The Duc de Nemours was struggling at that moment to soften the heart of the young Duc d'Orléans.
"Monseigneur," said he, "have you forgotten that it was Castelnau who, in this same town of Amboise, saved the life of the late Duc d'Orléans, when it was in great danger during an émeute?"